Steering column lock



June l1, 1940. w C, EDWARDS 2,203,949

STEERING COLUMN LOCK Filed July 29, 1938 t l Gttornegs `Patented June 1l, 1940 sfrliultnvaV COLUMN Locri William C. Edwards, Anderson, Ind., assignoi" to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware` l Original application May 31, 1935, Serial No. 24,246.` Divided and this application July 29, 1938, Serial No. 221,953 i m5 i This invention relates to automotive ,vehicle locks and more particularly to `locks having `a dual function of locking both the steering column against rotation and the ignition circuit in open condition with a single locking means.

It is an object `of my invention to provide a simple, economical lock with the abovedual functions. i i

It is a further object to provide a certain se` quence of operation of the `parts for purposes of ,w safety. l i

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of this invention, reference is `made to the following specication wherein there is `described the embodiment of my invention which` is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a section through a steering column showing `one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 `showing the plunger in unlocked position but the `ignition switch still open.

Figure 4 is a sectional View similar to Figure 3 showing the plunger in unlocked positionand the switch closed. l i

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing parts of the switch in spaced relation. y

In the form of my invention disclosed in Figures 1-4 inclusive the steering post or column is composed of a series of concentric tubes, the outer 28 of which is the outer casing which surrounds the next smaller size 30 whichis the actuating or steering tube and which carries with it a series of tubes 32 which may be used as conductors for various control devices. such as the electrical conduit for the horn, lights, etc. ing post or column is secured a casting |00 as shown in the drawing. The extended leg |02 `has a bore |04 cut therein at right angles tothe steering post in which is adapted to slide a holy low plunger |06. A plate |08 is secured across the outer end of the opening to prevent the plunger |06 from protruding therefrom. Within the hol-` low plunger |00 is sldably supported a second plunger ||0 whose inner portion is of smaller diameter to provide a projecting nose ||2 which passes through openings ||4 and I6 in the actuating tube and outer casing, respectively, of

thesteering column. A spring ||8 rests against the `base of the hollow plunger |06 and also l 5 Claims. (Cl. '7o- 255) l against the opposite base of the plunger ||0 and tends to keep the two inspaced relation. A second bore i |20 above the bore |04, and at right angles thereto, has positioned therein a cylindrical barrel lock |22 which has an eccentrici `g; projecting pin |24 in the lower face. This pin |24 projects through the upper wall of the hollow plunger` |05 and engages a slot |26 in the upper face of the plunger H0. The lockbarrel |22 has projecting from its periphery, a small re- `;.10 tracti'ble pin |48 which` engages an opening |50 in the casting to lock the same and which may be retracted by turning the key.

,The` lower portion of the casting has a smaller bore` |28 parallel to the bore |84 which carriesrl a rod |30 therein andan operating knob |32 on the outer end. Adjacent the inner end is a diametrical hole |34 therethrough in which enl gages a pin |38 oi a switch actuating mechanism which may be reciprocated back and forth in the p0 elongated slot |40.

Pin |38 carries at its lower end a circular disc 84 by 'being riveted thereto. A second circular disc 86` is .positioned directly below.` disc 84 and between the two is aniinsulated circular block 88 25 having therein two diametrically opposite notches in its periphery which engage inturned lips on both thecircular discs to prevent rotation of the discs `and to secure the assembly together. The center of the insulating block is cut out to form 30 an opening 90 and in this opening is positioned a coil spring 92. The lower disc also has pressed out knobs 83 which act as Contact points. When the pin |38 is reciprocated in slot |40 to the position seen in Figure 4 contacts 93 complete an 35 electrical circuit across contacts 'I4 and 16, carried by a member 12 formed of insulating material. Member l2 is secured to the lower portion of a switch housing 10, which in turn is secured to the lower portion of the leg |02 in any co-n- 40 venient manner, `such as welding for example. i Between opening |34 and the outer end of the rod |30 is a circular groove |42 in the outer periphery which engages with a small ball bearing |44 supported in an opening |45 in the cast- 45 ing between bore |04 and |28 which acts as a locking member for the same. In the lower` pe riphery of the plunger |06 is an openingv |46 which when in alignment with the small ball bearing will allow the same to go upwardly a sui- 50 cient amount to allow actuation of the rod and its attached 4switch assembly.

In this embodiment the operation is as follows:

As shown in Figure 2, when the tongue ||2 is in place in the opening ||4 to lock the steering 55 column against rotation, and the ball'bearing is seated in the groove |42 to lock the switch assembly, the key |52 will then be turned which iii-st pulls the retractible pin |48 out of engage` ment with the opening |50 and upon furtherrotation the eccentric pin will pull the-plunger lli] and the hollow plunger |06 to the right until it reaches the position as shown in Figure 3, where `the tongue ||2 will be retracted from the opening IM and unlock the steering column. This places the opening H56 directly above the ball |44 and upon pulling upon the knob |32 the ball will be forced up into the opening |46 and the switch member placed in such position that the knobs 93 will bridge the contacts 'I6 and 14 to complete the ignition circuit, as have best `beenrshown in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing it is evident that ll have provideda simple and economical locking means for locking two portions of the car, that is, the steering column and ignition circuit with a device which may be easily applied and of such size that it is not particularly noticeable.

While I have shown and disclosed one form of mechanical means for carrying` out my inven# tion, it is apparent that there may be other ways of accomplishing the same result and therefore I do not wish my invention to be limited to the vdevice as disclosed, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a unitary lock structure, a body, a pair of parallel bores into the body, means axially s1idable in each lbore to accomplish locking and switching functions, and interlocking means between the slidable means whereby it will be necessary to actuate the two in a given sequence of operation, said interlocking means comprising a detent supported in the body between the two slidable means and indentures in each of these slidable means into which the detent may move to allow the remaining member to be moved thus interlockingr the two slidable means so that they must be moved in a given sequence.

2. In a unitary lock structure, a body, a pair of parallel bores into the body, means axially acogen;

vrality of parallel bores in the body, cylinders re- 10 ciprocable `in each bore, a locking bolt connected with one cylinder, an electric switch actuated by the second cylinder, and interlocking means between the two cylinders to prevent one from moving unless the other is in a given position7 said 15 interlockngmeans comprising a detent supported in the body between the two slidable means and indentures in each of these slidable means into which the detent may move to allow the remaining member to be moved vthus interlocking the v20 two slidable means so that they must be moved inA a given sequence.

fi. In a unitary lock structure, abody, a plurality of parallel bores in the body, cylinders reciprocable in each bore, a locking bolt connected ,25 withvone cylindery an electric switching means secured to the body and connected to the second cylinder, interlocking means between the two cylinders to cause sequence operation, another bore at right angles to the others, a cylinder lock po-V 30 sitioned in the bore and having an eccentric operating pin engaging one of the cylinders to reciprocate the same.

5. In a unitary lock structure, a body, a pair of parallel bores in said body, means axially slid- 35 able in each bore, a locking bolt movable with one of said slidable means, an ignition switch actuated by the other of said slidable means, a detent supported in the body between the two slidable means and indentures in leach of thee, means into which the detent may move to allow the remaining member to be moved thus interlocking the two means so that they must be moved in a given sequence.

WILLIAM c. EDWARDS. 15 

